Khalifa University of Science, Technology and Research (KUSTAR) sent a group of students on a three-week scientific trip to Taiwan. Students visited a number of highly esteemed scientific, cultural and research institutions, and were trained on the most advanced nanotechnology practices and micro mechanical systems.

The trip started in the Taiwanese capital, Taipei, where the students visited the Institute of Physics at "Academia Sinica" and were informed about the Taiwan National Science and Technology Program for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. They also visited the Taiwan International Graduate Program and its advanced scientific and research facilities. Moreover, the students visited the National Taiwan University where they were briefed on the Nanotechnology Human Resource Development Program (NHRD), the Center for Microscopy and Nano Analysis (CMNA) and the Micro Electro Mechanical System Research Center (MEMS). During their free time, they stopped to visit the infamous Taipei 101 Tower and the National Palace Museum.

The student group visited Hsinchu City to take a look at the Center for Nanotechnology, Material Science and Microsystems, in addition to Nuclear Sciences Faculty and Engineering and Systems Science Department at the National Tsing Hua University. The students also visited the Nanotechnology Research Center of the Industrial Technology Research Institute and the Hsinchu Science Park.

The delegation concluded its trip by further visiting a range of scientific facilities and centers specialized in nanotechnology, biotechnology, advanced industrial technology. The students joined one-week nanotechnology training sessions at the Institute of Physics in Academia Sinica before returning to the UAE.

Commenting on the trip, Professor Maw - Kuen Wu, member of the Board of Trustees at KUSTAR, Director General of the National Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Program of Taiwan and Director of the Institute of Physics, Academia Sinica, said: "This is the first trip we've organized to Taiwan. We worked with these various research centers and universities to ensure that the students came back to the UAE informed of the diverse research activities taking place across many scientific fields in Asia, especially in nanotechnology and nuclear engineering. The activities they undertook during their travels will prove to have a positive impact on enhancing the students' scientific knowledge through practical application."

The trip was divided into two segments. The first comprised of field trips to the various institutions over a two week period, while the second segment saw the students work together on team projects during the last week of the journey.

Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, KUSTAR Executive Vice President, said: "By offering students various summer scientific trips, we aim to enhance their technical knowledge by having them practice in highly esteemed and advanced scientific and research institutions found around the world. We have found that these trips have positive after effects on their academic performance, and the feedback we've received has been fantastic. We're proud to be a home grown institution offering students a holistic international educational experience".

He added: "These trips highlight KUSTAR's keenness to forge closer ties with scientific universities and institutes all over the world. This will be of interest to today's students as they will become regularly informed about the latest technologies and research taking place globally. It also enhances KUSTAR's ongoing research efforts undertaken by its academic committee and student researchers."

The students expressed their delight for the scientific benefits and practical experience they gained through this trip. This kind of experience will expand the students' knowledge, in addition to motivating them to make more of effort with their study and research. KUSTAR student Hashim Abdullah Al – Ali said: "After a detailed study of nanotechnology at the University, the trip gave me an opportunity to apply what I've already learnt and to see the importance of this technology in practice. I feel privileged to have had such an experience because it provided me with information and practical expertise and I am now even more interested in scientific progress and innovation."

Another student delegation was sent to Germany to visit scientific facilities specialized in manufacturing, including the various stages of product design, simulation, testing and production. KUSTAR regularly rewards its top performing students by sending them on foreign trips which provide them with an outlook on the latest global practices, and which support their academic experience by conducting creative experiments while onsite. Past trips were to Finland, Spain, the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Japan and South Korea.